UK Introduces Chemical Castration to Combat Prison Overcrowding
The UK government plans to use medication to suppress the sex drive of sex offenders, aiming to reduce reoffending and manage prison overpopulation. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood may mandate chemical castration in certain prisons. This initiative is part of broader judicial reforms to tackle systemic issues and stabilize the prison system.
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- United Kingdom
The British government is set to introduce medication that suppresses the sex drive of certain sex offenders as part of an effort to curb reoffending rates and ease the pressure on the overcrowded prison system.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the initiative on Thursday, noting that chemical castration could become mandatory in two regions across 20 prisons. The strategy accompanies psychological interventions targeting underlying causes of offending behavior.
This measure emerges from a comprehensive review led by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, focusing on reforming a strained system. Mahmood highlighted the urgency of these reforms to prevent a legal collapse, which could see trials halted and crime unpunished.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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